Luminous advertising apparatus



April 13, 1937. G w. 'KENT y 2,077,111

LUMINOUS ADVERTISING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1934 H J i: es S ii Q 24 i: H e127 I 5] @l I: :i 9 5) I ooLLAnnAY U z5' 21 gi DOLLAR DAYl a Figi www f L. any 5 14 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNIT E Dv STATES 1.1.6511E'N'r.V offesi-ca 4 Claims.

Myx-.invention relates'to advertising apparatus and Athelikeof fthe general type in which light means are used'fto produce an image on a translucent screen which is intended to. be viewed 5 from; one sidei thereof.

Such advertising ,apparatus is very useful, particularly in connection with retail merchandising.

For such purposes, as Well as'for other forms of .advertising purposes,` such as billboard advertising, it is veryv desirable to produce on a screen a luminous image which may be very `large and which may be colored.

It is also very desirable to be able to change the image or copy from time'to time with ease and with low cost.

It is also very desirable to provide luminous advertising apparatus of 'the above character, and which is adapted for incorporation in a unitary box or case, and the parts of Vwhich are easily manipulated..

Luminous advertising apparatusA heretofore available don not have the characteristics, and are not operative, as vabove* set forth.

The objects of the present improvements include the provisionof `a luminous advertising apparatus which` has the characteristics, and which" is operative, as above set forth.

Further; objects ofthepresent improvements include the provision of a luminous advertising apparatusA having the foregoing characteristics and which is adapted for easy andeconomical manufacture and use;

The foregoing and other-objects are attained byfthe improvements, apparatus, parts, combinations; and sub-combinations, which comprise the present` invention, and the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which, together with their mode of use, are set forth in the following description, -andwhich are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claimsforming part hereof.

The nature ofthe improvements of the present invention maybe described in general terms as includingppreferably aunitary box or case having atranslucent screen inone Wall thereof which is .adapted to beviewed from the outsidel by one or moreobservers;

For the purposes of 'best attaining ythe objects of the present improvements, the translucent screen is preferably-a single thicknessv opalite glass platescreen.

At the side of the translucent screen oppositel to the viewed side thereof, that is tasa?, Prefer;-V

55,ably-withintheboxforycase, a point source of light is provided,l and light interceptingv means is. interposedbetween thel light source and the screen.

The light interceptingmeans may be a translucent glass plate ori-llm painted in colors or 5 otherwise with the desired "copy or pictures, and means are providedlfor adjusting the location of the point source of light and the light intercepting means Asothat anenlargedimage of the copy-or-pictures of tlielight intercepting means 10 is.projected`upon the opalite glass screen, and may be viewed with clearness and distinction from v the outside `of ,f they box or'case.

Luminous advertising apparatus embodying the-present improvements are illustrated in the 15 accompanyingdrawing'forming part hereof, in which.

Figurerliis aV longitudinal sectional viewfof vfone embodiment ofthe improved luminous advertising apparatus as `on lines l-|,' Figs. Zand 3; 20

Fig.' 2; a-I transverse sectional View thereof as on line .2s- 2; Fig. l;

Fig.. 3; afrontend view'.v thereof, lookingat the .observers side of the opalite glass screen;

Fig.v 4, azfragmentary'plan .view of the interior 25 portions ofthe preferred box orcase and its contents,.lookingin the direction of the arrows 'll- 4, andiillustratingY the construction andarrangement of the point source of light and the light intercepting meansV and Vthe adjustable 30 mounting means therefor; and

Fig. 5, a fragmentaryview'similarto Fig. 1, illstratingra:modied'form of the improved apparatus;

Similar numerals refer to similar parts 35 throughout the several views.v

One embodiment of theimproved'luminous advertisingapparatus-.is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusivev and is indicated generally by I 0, and preferably'includes a unitary box or case H 40 having in one side or end wall thereof a translucentv screen member IZWhich is preferably a single thickness opalite glass plate screen, opalite glass havingsfat least onone surface thereof y a: fused lamina of White translucent material, and 45 the single thickness opalite glass plate being substantiallyf0.06 Linch thick.

Double thickness opalite glass plate is not operativeforrthe purpose of the present improvements in the same manner as the preferred single 50 thickness 1 glass plate.

The outerrfaceorv` side I3 ofthe preferred opalite-"glass platescreen I2; is adapted to be viewed--r byvone orfmore'zobservers;v

The box Il furthermoreincludese'acbottomwall 55 i I 4, a side or end wall I5 opposite the screen member I2, opposite spaced side walls I6 and |'I and a top wall I8. One of the side Walls, as illustrated the side wall I'I is preferably formed in part by an upwardly opening door I9 through the opening of which access to the interior compartment 2B oi the box or case I I is effected.

Within the compartment 20 oi the unitary case I I, a point or spot source of light indicated generally by 2| is provided and between the point source of light 2| and the screen I2, light intercepting means indicated generally by 22 are located.

The point source of light 2| is preferably provided with means indicated generally by 23 for adjusting its distance from the screen means I2; and means indicated generally by 24 are provided for adjusting the position of the light intercepting means 22 with respect to the screen means I2 and the light source 2|.

As illustrated. the point source of light 2| is provided by an electric flash light lamp 25 which has a filament 25 providing a` point or spot of light of relatively high intensity.

The iiash light lamp 25 may be operated by batteries or by a transformer which derives its power from a usual electric light circuit.

The adjusting means 23 for the point source of light 2| as illustrated, includes a slidable block 26 on which a base receptacle 2l is secured, and v the lamp 25 is screwed in the receptacle 2l in a usual manner.

Between the block 26 and the wall I5 a mounting block 28 is secured to the bottom wall I4 of the case Il, and a rod 29 slidably extends through a bore provided in the block 28, and one end 30 of the rod 29 is secured to the block 2B.

Thumb screw means 3| are operatively mounted in the block 28, whereby the position of the block 26 with respect to the position of the screen I2 and thus of the filament 25' or the point source of light 2| may be releasably adjusted, by releasing the thumb screw means 3| and sliding the rod 29 back and forth through the block 28; The block 26 being secured to the end 30 of the rod 29, moves with the rod 29, and may be grasped directly in adjusting its position.

After the desired position of the point source of light has been attained, the thumb screw means 3| are tightened and the point source of light 2l is maintained at the desired position.

As illustrated, the means 24 for adjusting the position of the light intercepting means 22 with respect to the point source of light 2| and the screen I2, includes a grooved base 32 which is pivotally mounted on one end of a swinging frame 33, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the block 28. The pivotal mounting means for each end of the frame 33 may be as illustrated bolt and thumb nut means indicated generally by 3d. i

The block 32 is located between the point source of light 2| and the screen l2 and as illustrated has a transverse groove 35 formed therein in which is seated the light intercepting means 22, which as illustrated is a glass plate 36 having the words "Dollar day painted thereon.

When the lamp 25 is illuminated, the operation of the improved apparatus IIll is to produce an enlarged image of the words Dollar day or such other black, or colored copy or design as may be applied to or formed by the light intercepting means 22, on the screen I2, the enlarged image being clearly and distinctly visible by one or more observers as shown in Fig. 3.

In the modified embodiment of the improvements illustrated in Fig. 5 and indicated generally by IIB, the apparatus is generally similar to the apparatus Il), but includes a high voltage lamp |25 provided with a shield tube |31 which has a small aperture |38 formed therein opposite the light intercepting means |22, whereby the shield tube |31 in combination with the high voltage lamp |25 provides a point or spot source of light.

Iclaim:v Y

A1.A Unitary optical apparatus for advertising and the like, including a case, one wall of the case having a screen opening, a translucent screen member in the screen opening, another wall of the case having an access opening adapted to be closed, a point source of high intensity light within the case, adjustable means within the case operatively mounting` the light source for movement towards and away from the screen, and adjustable means within the case adapted for holding a light'intercepting member, theA adjustable holding means including a base located between the light source and the screen, and swinging frame means pivotally mounting the base for movement between the light source and the screen. i f

2. Unitary optical apparatus for/advertising and the like, including a case, one wal1 of. the case having a screen opening; a translucent screen member in the screen opening, another Wall of theV case having an access opening, a door for the access opening, a point source of high intensity light within the case, adjustable means within the case operatively mounting the light source for movement towards and away from the screen, and adjustable means within the case adapted for holding a light intercepting member, the adjustable holding means including a base located between the light source and the screen, and swinging frame means pivotally mounting the base for movement between the light source and the screen.

3. Unitary optical apparatus for advertising and the like, including acase, one wall of the case having a screen opening, a translucent screen member in the screen opening, another wall of the case having an access opening adapted to be closed, a point source of high intensity light within the case, adjustable `means within the case operatively mounting the light source for movement towards and away from the screen, and adjustable means within thecase adapted for holding a light intercepting member, the adjustable holding means including a grooved base located between the light source and the screen, and swinging frame means pivotally mounting the base for `movement between the light source and the screen.

4. Unitary optical apparatus for advertising and the like, including a case, one wall of the case having a screen opening, atranslucent screen member in the screen opening, another wall ofr the case having an access opening, a door for the access opening, a pointsourc'e of high intensity light within the case, adjustable means'wthin the case operatively mounting the light source for movement towards and away from the screen, and adjustable means within the case adapted for holding alight intercepting member, the adjustable hol-ding means including a grooved base located between the light source and the screen, and swinging frame means pivotally mounting the base for movement between the light source and the screen. I f GORDON W. KENT. 

